Means for locking hubs on spindles.



UNITED 'sri-rrns PATENT OFFICE. Yb

LOUIS SCHWITZER, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO AUTO MOTIVE PARTS 00., 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, CORPORATION OF INDIANA MEANS FOR LOCKIN G I-IUBS ON SPINDLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. mg ht D 10, {91

Application filed May 6, 1918 Serial No. 232,854. I

To all whom it may concern: iv

Be 1t known that I, Louis SoHwrrznR, who has declared h1s intentions of becoming a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Means for Locking Hubs on Spindles; and I 'do' herebyfdeclarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description. thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like'parts. e

'This, invention relates to means for looking a hub on a spin'dle, and is adaptedprimarily for use in connection with the cooling fans for internalcombustionengines. The prime feature of the invention isthe pro vision of 'acollar orringfor holdin'gthe hub of the fan'on" the spindle, instead of employing the usual form of nut for this purpose, which would require that the end of the spindle be 'reduc'e'd'andthreaded, thereby entailing considerable cost.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a locking ring for holding the collar in position onthe end of the spindle, and a further feature of the inventionis the provision of means to prevent rotation of the collar upon the spindle when desired.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a central longitudinal sectional view through a fan hub, showing the same mounted upon a spindle, parts of the spindle being broken away. Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the spindle with the hub removed. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of one end of the hub showing the locking collar thereon. Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the locking ring employed for holding the collar in position on the spindle.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a spindle of that class adapted to be used for supporting a fan in connection with an internal combustion engine, one end of the spindle having a threaded shank 2 by means of which it is attached to the engine. Mounted upon' the spindle 1 is a fan hub 3 which is'preferably'hollowxand open at one end, tl1e;openend"having'a peripheral flange 4 to which is. attached a spider 5 employed for supporting the-fan blades'6.

' Heretofore it has been thread the end of the spindle entering the hub 3 and place a nut thereon, butowing to the factthat the" inner face of the nut must be directly at right angles to the axis of the spindle to prevent uneven wear on the thrust washer, and owingto the fact that the threads become 'aflected by contraction and expansion, diiiiculty has been customary to .encountered in'properly retaining the nut lntrue ahnement. To overcome this objec:

inner face abutting against afioatingwa'sher 8, while a plate 9 preferably of fibrous substance, is placed. against theouter' face of the collar before the spider 5 is introduced into position.

The collar 7 is positively locked into position on the end of the spindle by means of a split locking ring 10, which snaps into a groove 11 formed in the peripheral surface of the end of the spindle, the depth of the groove being such that substantially one half of the locking ring will project beyond the periphery of the spindle and abut against a shoulder 12 formed by enlarging the opening through the collar 7 at one end as shown at 13, thus permitting the collar to slip over and inclose the ring to prevent the same from springing out of the groove 11.

In some instances it is desired to hold the collar 7 against rotation on the spindle and to accomplish this result a slot 14 is formed in the peripheral surface of the spindle l and is extended longitudinally thereof the required distance, and co6perating with said slot is a pin 15 carried by the collar 7 said pin being attached to the collar in any suitable manner.

In attaching the fan hub to the spindle the free end of the spindle is introduced through an opening in the closed end of the hub and between suitable bearing rollers 16 within the hub, the hub being introduced ,on to the spindle a sufficient distance to fully expose the free end of the spindle. The collar 7 is then introduced over the free end of the spindle and moved inwardly beyond the groove 11, so that the locking ring 10 can be readily snapped into the groove 11, and when the pin 15 is employed for holding the collar against rotation, the split portion of the ring is caused to register with the side walls of the slot 14:, so as not to interfere with the movement of the collar.

After the locking ring has been entered in the groove 11, the hub 3 is moved outwardly until the collar 7 is forced over the locking ring 10 thereby preventing the ring from spreading or moving out of the groove. The plate 9 is then introduced into the open end of the hub, and owing to the fit of the parts within the hub, the outer face of the collar and the end of the spindle will rest against the plate 9, thus holding the hub against longitudinal movement on the spindle.

By providing this form of device the hub can be very quickly attached to or removed from the spindle and the cost of produc tion would be greatly reduced. It will also be seen that a more perfect bearing will be provided as the collar will always maintain the hub in proper engagement with the spindle and will not be loosened or aifected by contraction or expansion, and it will likewise be seen that when the collar is properly locked upon the spindle and the hub prop erly assembled together, it will be impossible to release the locking means until the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

spider is removed from the end of the hub, and said hub moved inwardly to permit the release of the lockingring.

The invention claimed is 1. The combination with a spindle having a peripheral groove near its outer free end, and a hub for cooperation therewith, of a collar adapted to enter the,.end of the hub and fit over the end of the spindle, and be moved inwardly beyond said groove, 21 ring adapted to snap into said groove and removably secure the collar to the spindle, and means to hold the collar against rotation on the spindle.

2. The combination with a spindle, and a hub for cooperation therewith, said spindle having a circumferential groove near its outer end, of a collar adapted to be introduced into the outer end of said hub and over the end of said spindle and be moved inwardly beyond said groove, and a look ing ring for engagement with said groove to hold the collar in engagement with the spindle.

3. The combination with a spindle having a circumferential groove and a longitudinally extending slot, and a fan hub for cooperation therewith, of a collar adapted to hold the hub .on said spindle, a locking ring adapted to enter .aid groove and hold the collar in position on the spindle, a shoulder on the collar for engagement With said locking ring, and a pin carried by the collar adapted to enter said slot to hold the collar against rotation on the spindle.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

LOUIS SGHlVITZER.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patent:

Washington, D. 0. 

